Robert Karvelas (April 3, 1921 â€" December 5, 1991) was an American
actor who was notable for his role as the Chief's dense assistant,
Larrabee, on the 1960s sitcom Get Smart. He was Don Adams's
cousin.Karvelas was born in New York City with a twin brother and grew
up in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. His mother was of Irish descent and his
father was of Greek descent. His mother and Adams' mother were
sisters. Karvelas was a Golden Gloves boxing champion while serving in
the United States Marines during World War II and later worked as a
stockbroker.Wanting his cousin to remain close to him, Adams initially
gave Karvelas several uncredited bit parts on Get Smart. One such part
was an assistant to the Chief, which would evolve into the character
of Larrabee. Karvelas actually ended up appearing in all five seasons
of the show. The character "Larrabee" would go on to have the
distinction of being just as bumbling as Maxwell Smart, if not more
so. In Episode 21, Season 5, Smart tells the Chief, "People ask if
Larrabee and I are related." Robert's character part, and his
generally sweet, unassuming nature, enhanced the joviality of Get
Smart.After the cancellation of Get Smart, Karvelas again joined his
cousin Adams on the sitcom, The Partners, which starred Adams and
Rupert Crosse and co-starred Dick Van Patten. The show was cancelled
after one season. He continued to appear in small bit parts on
television before dropping out of acting in 1976. He reprised the
character of Larrabee in The Nude Bomb and Get Smart, Again!
actor who was notable for his role as the Chief's dense assistant,
Larrabee, on the 1960s sitcom Get Smart. He was Don Adams's
cousin.Karvelas was born in New York City with a twin brother and grew
up in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. His mother was of Irish descent and his
father was of Greek descent. His mother and Adams' mother were
sisters. Karvelas was a Golden Gloves boxing champion while serving in
the United States Marines during World War II and later worked as a
stockbroker.Wanting his cousin to remain close to him, Adams initially
gave Karvelas several uncredited bit parts on Get Smart. One such part
was an assistant to the Chief, which would evolve into the character
of Larrabee. Karvelas actually ended up appearing in all five seasons
of the show. The character "Larrabee" would go on to have the
distinction of being just as bumbling as Maxwell Smart, if not more
so. In Episode 21, Season 5, Smart tells the Chief, "People ask if
Larrabee and I are related." Robert's character part, and his
generally sweet, unassuming nature, enhanced the joviality of Get
Smart.After the cancellation of Get Smart, Karvelas again joined his
cousin Adams on the sitcom, The Partners, which starred Adams and
Rupert Crosse and co-starred Dick Van Patten. The show was cancelled
after one season. He continued to appear in small bit parts on
television before dropping out of acting in 1976. He reprised the
character of Larrabee in The Nude Bomb and Get Smart, Again!
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